Granada and Alhambra Day Trip from Malaga

The Alhambra, Palace City of the Nasrids

The Alhambra is a fortress, royal city and garden complex on the hill of La Sabika, above Granada. Its name comes from the Arabic for the red castle, and most of what you see was built in the 13th and 14th centuries by the Nasrid sultans, the last Muslim dynasty in Spain. It was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 and is one of the most visited monuments in Europe.

The complex includes the Alcazaba fortress with its Torre de la Vela, the Nasrid Palaces, the Generalife and the Renaissance Palace of Charles V. Because entry is timed and Alhambra tickets sell out weeks ahead, a Granada and Alhambra tour with tickets included is the most reliable way to go. Your guide manages the schedule and explains what you see.

The Nasrid Palaces

The Nasrid Palaces are the heart of the Alhambra and its finest work of art. You pass through the Mexuar, the Comares Palace with its Court of the Myrtles and the Hall of the Ambassadors, and the Palace of the Lions, built around the Court of the Lions with its fountain held up by twelve stone lions. Ceilings of carved stalactite-like vaults, tilework and lace-like stucco cover every wall.

Look closely and you will see poetry and Quranic verses carved into the plaster, and the motto of the dynasty repeated again and again: there is no victor but God. The rooms are designed around light, water and shade. Entry to the palaces has a timed slot, so your guide keeps to the schedule, and visits last around one hour. Photos are welcome but keep your voice low.

The Generalife Gardens

The Generalife was the summer retreat of the Nasrid sultans, set on a hillside above the palaces. Its name comes from the Arabic for the garden of the architect. The heart is the Patio de la Acequia, a long courtyard with a water channel, jets of water and flower beds, framed by arcades and hedges, which shows how Moorish garden designers used water as an art.

Terraces of roses, orange trees and tall cypresses lead to viewpoints where you can see the Alhambra towers and the whitewashed Albaicín across the valley. Spring and early summer are especially fragrant, while autumn gives golden light. The walk is gentle but includes some steps. Your Generalife Gardens tour blends history with a pleasant break from the crowds.

Granada City and the Journey from Malaga

Granada lies at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, about one and a half hours by road from Malaga, which makes a Granada day trip from Malaga a full but rewarding day of around ten hours. If you are wondering how to get to Granada from Malaga, joining our coach means you avoid parking in the city and the difficult Alhambra ticket system.

Granada itself is rich in atmosphere. The Albaicín, the old Moorish quarter with white houses and narrow lanes, faces the Alhambra across a valley, and the cathedral and the Royal Chapel, the resting place of Ferdinand and Isabella, stand in the centre. You will have some time to enjoy the city. Lunch and drinks are not included, so plan a stop.